Toy golfer



Nov. 22, 1960 K. c. WOODREY TOY GOLFER Filed March 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V INVENTOR.

KEN/V5776 C. WOOOEX ATTORNEYS:

Nov. 22, 1960 K. c. WOODRE Y TOY GOLFER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1960 72mm: @m

w w W c H H N m g United Statfis Patent 2,980,796 rov- GOLFER Kenne'th CiWoodrey, '23 Erie Ave., Middletown, Ohio Filed Mann, 1960, Sen 'No."14,434

4 Claims. c1. 46- 245) This invention relates 'to' toys, and more particularly to a toy inthe form'o'f a mechanical golf player.

A mainobject of the invention is to 'provide'anovel and improved mechanical toy .in-the form of a vgolfplayer, the toy being simple in construction, being easy to operate, and providinga' close simulation to-the actual body move ments performed by. a-Jgolf player in strikinga golf ball.

-A further object of the invention. istoprovidean'improved toy in the form of an electrically operated mechanical go-lf -player, the'toy being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, being sturdy in construction, and being usablefor playing'a simulated game of golf on any suitable surface, for example, indoors upon a rug .orcarpet simulating a golf course, or outdoors in any suitable area.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l'is atop plan view of agolfing toy constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of the simulated golf player of Figure 1, saidviewbeingtaken onltheline22 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional 'view taken substantiallyon the line 3 30f Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

FigureSis a cross sectionalview taken substantiallyon the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 ofFigure 3.

Figure 7-is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line '77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged'fragmentary perspective view of the shank end portion of a golf club which maybe emf ployed with the'toy of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a toy golfer constructedin accordance with the present invention. The'toy golfer "11 comprises a hollow base 12, which may be generally rectangular in form, or which may have any other suitable shape, the base 12 defining a housing in which is mounted an electric motor 13 adapted to be energized at times by a pair of flashlight "batteries 14, 14mounted in the base 12 adjacent the motor -13, as is clearly shownin Figure 2. A control switch 15 is mounted in the base 12 at one end thereof, the switch 15 being provided with the externally projecting control button 16 which is accessiblefrom'the outside of the base to control the motor 13. The motor 13 is connected to -the batteries 14, '14 in a circuit which-includes the control "switch 15.

Designated generally at 17 is an upstanding shaft member which .is .provided with the'base portion 18. Base :member 18 is fastene'd'to the top wall of the hollow supporting base 12 by a rivet 19 which is l'ocatedadj'acent one, side edge; of thebase member 18. A flexible cable 20 extends upwardly through the top wall of the hollow sup- 2,960,796 Patented Nov. 22, 1960 porting member 12 and'the portion of base member 18 located-adjacent the opposite side edge of said base memberg'as shown in Figure 3. The upstanding shaft member 17 is provided with the inclined top portion 21 which is directed upwardly and forwardly.

, Secured-- on the support member 17 and the lower por- 'tion-of theinclined shaft element 21 is a hollow member -23 shapedWo-simulatethe lower portion of the body of a toy golfer, the hollow member 23 being thus rigidly held. "Designatedat 24 is a body shaped to simulate the head of-thetoy golfer, said body being secured to the top end of the inclinedup-per shaft portion 21, being engaged onsaid top'end andbeing clamped thereto by a set screw '25providedin 'the simulated head portion 24.

Designated at 26is=a simulated torso element which is rotatably mounted on the'inclined shaft portion 21'between'thc'stationarybody portion 23 and the stationary head portion 24. The simulated torso member 26 is provided -with the simulated, forwardly extending arms 27,?27 which-arejoined together at 23, as shown in Figure =8, and which-are formed at their junction 28 with a s'quared socket 29 in which the squared end '30 of a simulated golf club 31 is lockingly receivable. Thus, as shown in-Figure=9, the shank of the golf club 31 terminates-in the reduced'squa'red portion '30, and the end of the squared-'portion'30 is formed with a dovetail element 32 which is lockingly receivable in the upper end of the socket-'29 and which is yieldablyheld in the socket by a resilient ring 33 provided in an annular recess'34- formed in {the t'o'p endpo'rtionof socket29. By exerting manual outwar'd force on the shank of the golf club 31, the squared portion 30' thereof'may be disengaged from the socket 29, allowing a 'differentgolf club to be substituted. L'As will be read'ily 'apparent, the clubs may have striking headsfiiof different pitch, so that a simulated golf ball, "shown at '36 will travel in different paths in accordance withthe angular inclination of the head 35 of the golf club employed when'the'head strikes the ball.

A'simulat ed tee '-37 is provided on thetop Wall of the supporting base 1 2, and the simulated ball 36 may be positioned on the tee in the-path of travel of the golf club head 35 so that the ball will be struck when the golf club swings downwardlyfin a manner presently to be described.

The simulated torso 26 is provided in its upper portion with awall element 38 "through which the inclined supporting shaft member 21 rotatably extends. A biasing "spring'3'9 of gene'rally spiral shape has its outer end portion engagedwith an anchor pin 40 secured to and depending frornthe wall 38, and is secured at its inner end to the inclined shaft element 21, as by being engaged-with an'anchor lug '41 provided on the shaft element'21 in the manner illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The spiral spring 39 biases the torso member 26 to the starting positiondefined by a stop arm 42 secured to the inclindslraft portion 21 and engaged by a coiled buffer spring 513 'secured to an inwardly projecting lug 44 pro- -vide d?in'the intermediate portion of the torso member 26. :As shown-in FigureS, theb-ufier spring 43 is of substantial length, whereby the torso member 26 may rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5,

compressing the spring 43, so that when the spring expands it 'will"return the torso member 26 to a position wherein the spring '43 is no longer under compression,

namely, to a starting position such as that illustrated in Figures 1 tand"2 wherein the golf club 31 is positioned with itshead-35 behind the tee 27 but closely adjacent thereto.

; secured in 'the'botto'm portion of the simulated torso 70126is -a wad-member 45 formed adjacent its rim with an arcuate z-slot 46, which is concentric with the shaft portion 21.

Designated at 47 is a bearing bracket which is secured to the inclined supporting shaft element 21 below the torso member 26 and which is providcd with an arm portion 48 in which is journaled a pinion shaft 49 provided with the pinion gear element 50. The flexible shaft 20 is drivingly connected by means of a sleeve coupling 51 to the pinion shaft 49. The shaft of the motor 13 is drivingly connected to the flexible shaft 20 through a conventional gear reduction unit 54 mounted in the hollow supporting base 12 adjacent the motor 13.

Designated at 55 is a driving sleeve member which is rotatably mounted on the inclined shaft portion 21 and which is formed at its lower end with a gear 56 rotatably supported on the bracket member 47. The gear 56 is meshingly engaged by the pinion gear element 50, so that torque is transmitted from the flexible shaft 20 to the driving sleeve 55 through the pinion gear element 50 and the relatively larger gear 56. A clutch plate 57 surrounds the sleeve member 55, being slidable axially thereon, and being connected to a top flange 58 provided on the sleeve 55 by a plurality of coupling pins 59 secured to the flange 58 and extending through apertures 69 formed in the plate 57. Coiled springs 60 surround the pins 59 and bear between the plate member 57 and washers 61 secured to the lower end portions of the pins 59, biasing the plate 57 upwardly, namely, against the flange 58, but allowing the plate 57 to be moved downwardly. An upstanding pin member 62 is formed on the end of an outwardly projecting arm 63 provided on the plate 57, the pin member 62 being engageable in the arcuate slot 46 as the plate 57 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, whereby the pin member 62 may transmit torque to the simulated torso 26 to swing said simulated torso in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6 because of the driving engagement of the pin 62 with the upper end 68 of slot 46, as viewed in Figure 6.

Designated at 69 is a generally circular cam member which is secured to the inclined shaft element 21 between the torso member 26 and the flange 53 of sleeve 55, the cam member 69 having a riser portion 70 which is concentric with the inclined shaft member 21 and which increases in thickness in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, being located in the path of movement of the arm 63. The thickened portion 70 gradually increases in thickness, eventually being of sufficient thickness to move the drive plate 57 downwardly sufliciently to disengage the pin 62 from slot 46 as disc member 57 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, thus releasing the simulated torso member 26 from driving engagement by the member 57. When the arm 63 passes beyond the thickened portion 70 of the cam member 69, rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, the disc member 57 is released and the springs 60 move the disc member 57 upwardly, causing the pin element 62 to engage the bottom surface of the wall 45 until the pin element 62 may enter the lower end of the slot 46, as viewed in Figure 6.

In operation, when the motor 13 is energized, the flexible cable 20 transmits torque through the meshing gears 50 and 56 to the sleeve 55, in turn causing the driving disc member 57 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6. The pin 62 enters the slot 46 and drivingly engages with the upper edge 68 of the slot, rotating the torso member 26 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. This initiates the back-swing movement of the simulated arms 26 of the toy golfer.

When the arm 63 moves along the thickened cam portion 70, the pin member 62 is retracted from the slot 46, releasing the torso member 26, whereby the spiral spring 39 causes the torso member 26 to be rapidly swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, and in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, bringing the head of the golf club 35 against the simulated golf ball 36 and causing the club head to strike he, ba l with considerable impact. The cushioning spring 43 allows the club 31 to move past its starting position, thus completing the down-swing movement of the club. The cushioning spring 43 then expands, returning the golf club 31 to its normal or starting position, namely the position thereof shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be understood that the above cycle of events occurs as a result of energizing the motor 13 for a sufficient period of time to move the driving pin 62 through a suflicient arc to cause the arm 63 to retract the pin from the slot 46. The above described cycle of events may be repeated by again energizing the motor 13, by means of the control switch 15, to cause the disc member 57 to rotate sufliciently in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, to reproduce the above described events.

The amount of permissive forward movement of the golf club 31 on the down-swing may be regulated by adjusting the position of the stop arm 42. For this purpose, the collar portion of the stop arm 42 is provided with a set screw 81 which is engageable with the shaft portion 21 to lock the stop arm 42 in a selected position.

The cam member 69 is provided with a central boss 84 which projects upwardly through a central aperture provided in the bottom wall 45 of the simulated torso member 26, a fastening pin 85 extending through the boss 84 and the inclined shaft portion 21 to rigidly secure the cam member 69 to said shaft portion, while at the same time providing a bearing support for the simulated torso element 26.

While a specific embodiment of a toy golfer has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy golfer comprising a base, an electric motor mounted in said base, an upstanding supporting shaft rigidly secured to said base, a torso element rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, a simulated golf club secured to and extending outwardly from said torso element, a driving member rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft adjacent and drivingly engageable with said torso element, first spring means biasing said torso element toward a starting position, means coupling said motor to said driving member to rotate the driving member continuously while the motor is energized, second spring means biasing said driving member toward driving engagement with said torso element, and cam means secured to the shaft adjacent said driving member and constructed and arranged to move said driving member out of driving engagement with said torso element responsive to rotation of said torso element to a predetermined angle beyond said starting position, whereby to release said torso element for return rotation to said starting position.

2. A toy golfer comprising a base, an electric motor mounted in said base, an upstanding supporting shaft rigidly secured to said base, a torso element rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, a simulated golf club secured to and extending outwardly from said torso element, a driving member rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft adjacent and drivingly engageable with said torso element, first spring means biasing said torso element toward a starting position, means coupling said motor to said driving member to rotate the driving member continuously while the motor is energized, second spring means biasing said driving member toward driving engagement with said torso element, and a cam member secured to and extending partially around the shaft adjacent said driving member, said cam member increasing in thickness in the direction of rotation of said torso element sufliciently to move said driving member out of driving engagement with said torso element responsive to rotation of said torso element through a predetermined angle beyond said starting position, whereby to release said torso element for return rotation to said starting position.

3. A toy golfer comprising a base, an electric motor mounted in said base, an upstanding supporting shaft rigidly secured to said base, a torso element rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, a simulated golf club secured to and extending outwardly from said torso element, a driving member rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft subjacent said torso element, upstanding pin means on the driving member drivingly engageable with said torso element, said torso element being formed with an aperture receiving said pin means, first spring means biasing said torso element toward a starting position, means coupling said motor to said driving member to rotate the driving member continuously while the motor is energized, second spring means biasing said driving member toward driving engagement with said torso element, and a cam member secured to and extending partially around the shaft between the torso element and the driving member, said cam member increasing in thickness in the direction of rotation of said torso element sufiiciently to move said driving member downwardly out of driving engagement with said aperture responsive to rotation of said torso element to a predetermined angle beyond said starting position, whereby to release said torso element for return rotation to said starting position.

4. A toy golfer comprising a base, an electric motor mounted in said base, an upstanding supporting shaft rigidly secured to said base, a torso element rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft, a simulated golf club secured to and extending outwardly from said torso element, a driving member rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft subjacent said torso element, upstanding pin means on the driving member drivingly engageable with said torso element, said torso element being formed with an aperture receiving said pin means, first spring means biasing said torso element toward a starting position, means coupling said motor to said driving member to rotate the driving member continuously while the motor is energized, second spring means biasing said driving member toward driving engagement with said torso element, a cam member secured to and extending partially around the shaft between the torso element and the driving member, said cam member increasing in thickness in the direction of rotation of said torso element sufficiently to move said driving member downwardly out of driving engagement with said aperture responsive to rotation of said torso element through a predetermined angle beyond said starting position, whereby to release said torso element for return rotation to said starting position, a stop arm secured to said shaft, and yieldable resilient buffer means on said torso element engageable with said stop arm when the torso element rotates back toward said starting position thereof subsequent to the disengagement of said upstanding pin means from said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,134 Vaile Jan. 19, 1904 1,658,054 Levy Feb. 7, 1928 2,902,865 Ferguson et al. Sept. 8, 1959 

